“Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.” Many Americans remember the TV jingle that listed the ingredients of a McDonald’s Big Mac. The popular double-decker sandwich has been around for half a century—the same as it ever was. And the company isn’t planning to mess with its most famous burger.

In 1967, Michael James “Jim” Delligatti lobbied the company to let him test what would become the Big Mac at his Pittsburgh restaurants. Later, Delligatti acknowledged the Big Mac’s similarity to a popular sandwich sold by the Big Boy chain. (Some critics claim the only difference is the “special sauce.”)

“This wasn’t like discovering the light bulb,” says Delligatti in Behind the Arches, a history of McDonald’s. “The bulb was already there. All I did was screw it in the socket.”

McDonald’s allowed Delligatti to sell the sandwich at one location—but he had to use the company’s standard bun. The wimpy roll flopped. Delligatti tried a bigger sesame seed bun. Boom! Sales rose by more than 12 percent, and the Big Mac was born.

The next year, McDonald’s added the Big Mac to the national menu. Fifty years later, it’s basically the same burger it was back then.

The “Golden Arches” has a massive global reach. McDonald’s cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, and french fries are popular worldwide. But on its U.S. home turf, trendy burger options and dietary concerns are luring many customers elsewhere. The company is working hard to keep up. Some McDonald’s restaurants now offer kale salads, fresh beef, and barista-style cafes—making the Big Mac’s long life especially notable.

Not many things in life stay the same: food fads, hairstyles, people—the list goes on. But the Bible says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) His sameness is rooted in His eternally perfect knowledge, character, and power. In an ever-changing world, that consistency comforts Christians.

Keeping the Big Mac unchanged comes with risks. Burger toppings like peanut butter, potato chips, mac and cheese, and fried eggs from newer chains such as Shake Shack and Red Robin might make the Big Mac seem outdated. On the other hand, maybe those odd-sounding trends make the famous burger seem classically appealing.

Mike Delligatti, son of the Big Mac inventor, asks, “What iconic sandwich do you know that can beat the Big Mac as far as longevity?” Not one. The seven-very-ordinary-ingredient Big Mac has stood the taste test of time.

Slideshow

The Big Mac. In real life it may not always look like its advertisement photo, but it always tastes the same. Consistency counts. (McDonald's)

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Most recent comments

AC

Would you want peanut butter,

Would you want peanut butter, potato chips, mac and cheese, and fried eggs on your burger? No offense, but I don't think I would. I don't think I've ever had a Bic Mac. We don't really go to McDonald's.

I agree with you, Anna C.

I agree with you, Anna C. That type of stuff just doesn't sound right on a burger. My mom really dislikes McDonald's, too. I know that I have never had a Big Mac. My family tries to stay healthy... and we usually only go out to eat once a month. As a treat.

one believable ball this so

For Sarah K

I don't really like fast food either. Culver's would probably be my top of fast food stores. And some people think I'm weird for loving this, but I love lettuce. And Jimmy johns. Don't judge me! And because we have a one working parent (like most homeschoolers) We don't have the most money. My sister and Mom and me want a new dog, so we have to raise the money ourselves. And my Mom is trying to get money for vacation, and once she's paid that off, then she will chip in. So far we have 238.70. Can any one think of food related puppy names? We have a dog named Kona (as in coffee and Hawaii) and we want another food related puppy. :)

Brenna

We were thinking of naming it

We were thinking of naming it Walnut (Wallie) if we got a boy, and Moxie if we got a girl. Moxie is a food, believe it or not! And also a really cute puppy name ;) Peanut Butter was also a possible name. and Mochi. Those are basically our top names.
Anna C: Chocolate Chip was a possibility!
Brenna G: We also were thinking of Oreo and Coco. Popcorn... I'll tell my parents about that! That is a really cute name. And Big Mac might be fun for a boy! Now that I think of it, its really cute!

Sadly, my Dad doesn't care

Sadly, my Dad doesn't care about the name Big Mac. And my Mom doesn't want to name our dog after a "Unhealthy McDonalds Item". But she does like the name Oreo. Some of our breeders Teddy Bear Puppies look like an Oreo. Most have white and brown or white and black in them. Oh, yeah! I forgot to tell you guys we are getting a Teddy Bear Puppy (usually their a mix of a Shih Zu and a poodle, or a Bichon and a Poodle.) Our breeder has the Bichon Poodle. Their mostly white. We almost named my current dog Ginger. She had a brown and black color when we first got her. But we liked the name Kona. And now she is the colors white/tan and grey!! That was a really big change in colors. Thanks for the name ideas!

McDonalds is disgusting

McDonalds is already very disgusting but then they added a burger with peanut butter. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

guys.....

guys it says that the other restaurants like red robins or shake shack are putting the odd toppings on there burgers not McDonald's, l am not a big fan of McDnald's but you guys should read closer... :)

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